Story and Gold Weddings Blog

After I finished photographing Candace + Mark in front of this rolling and expansive ocean, we walked back together to their venue. Candy, laughing + happy, thanked me repeatedly for being there and for being sooo amazing, etc, etc and I definitely blushed in the gratitude, you know – uncomfortable but like DON’T STOP. Headed back to the reception with Mark, she told me that I was the very first contract they signed after getting engaged last year. That I – hiring me as their wedding photographer – was the first decision she knew she wanted to make. While she most likely picked up on my slightly embarrassed awkwardness, I don’t think she realized that at this point I had to stay out in the courtyard for a minute afterwards alone, full out crying blinking away some tears.

I feel like these words should be fancier, bigger, grander but Candace, Mark — thank you for choosing me to document this incredible day. I hope you know how important this is to me — and that the reason I sobbed gracefully wept in the courtyard was that I’m the one that was so lucky to be a part of your day. I didn’t feel like a wedding vendor you picked out of a hat — I felt like a part of your family. You know, like Mark’s 4th brother or something. The love that you shared so effortlessly with me is the reason that I love photographing weddings.

Ok, so full disclosure – a sneak peek of an engagement session usually consists of one, two, three MAX images. I mean, it’s kinda the definition of a sneak peek.

So you’re forewarned – I’m breaking all the imaginary rules here. And I have two VERY good reasons. Reason #1: Katie. Reason #2: Ben. (And bonus reason #3: their amazing/helpful/engagement session assistant/bridesmaid Rebecca!)

I photograph engagement sessions that go great. They’re fun and easy and we make some beautiful photos. Then — I photograph the engagement sessions that make me feel like I’m floating on a fluffy cloud made up of incredible love, the perfect light and magical moments that I’m lucky to capture on a camera. These are the sessions that I linger around at the end, waiting for an opening to hug everybody.

Obviously, what I’m saying is that I totally did a creepy linger at the end of this session, trying to sneak in hugs with Kate, Ben – and Rebecca.

When I met up with Herson + Brayan, we started their session by chatting a little about what they were going for + some of the ‘engagement poses’ they liked. And it was when Brayan said he loved that pose of the two people just facing each other, with their foreheads together that I realized we were going to get along juuuusssstttt fine. I think I awkwardly patted his hand and smiling, silently nodded for like a solid three minutes. All while staring in his eyes, you know, to top off the creepiness.

These two are unbelievable, fantastic human beings. I’ve learned that in a lot of small business exercises, it’s helpful to visual or imagine the kind of clients you want to attract. At the top of my list, every time, is kind. Kind clients. And saying that out loud sounds as silly as my (short) list looks. And maybe I should add creative or flexible or totally loaded — but in my experience nothing impacts me or my work like kindness.

Herson and Brayan — are kind. These two are all love. I didn’t want their session to end. And this was a session that took place on a 90 degree summer day – I will do my best to not harp about the amount of sweating (SO MUCH SWEAT). Back to these boys — it was impossible not to feel their love, especially for each other. It felt solid and grounded and as real as anything could feel.

I knew that Jen + Lauren’s wedding day was going to be pretty spectacular when I showed up at Lauren’s apartment for the (some of my favorite) getting ready photos — and there she was, sitting on the floor in her underwear, calmly putting together her floral crown and offering me something to drink or eat. I half glanced around, unsure if I should bend over and quietly check in to make sure she knew that it was her wedding day. But that lovely, calm, beautiful and centered energy just followed us the entire day.

This wedding will go down as one of my favorite days — let alone one of my favorite weddings. They are amazing people — with amazing friends (who all look killer in floral), amazing family — and most of all — they share the most amazing love. It was such an honor to document that love — and be there throughout the day to capture all the love, the emotions, the laughter, the moments.

On a more personal note — I have to note that it was pretty incredible to be editing this wedding and looking at these photos during the recent Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. Being gay, I felt that decision deep in my bones and felt the immense gratitude for the direction I feel our world is headed … but it was a whole other level to be immersed in a couple’s actual wedding. In other words, I cried more than I should admit on editing days.

I just hope that I’m not the only one that can feel the love in these photographs — and the constant reminder that always, and forever, no matter what, #lovewins.